Logistics paves the way – Review Supply Chain Day 2019

Logistics is relevant: In Germany alone, more than three million people are employed in this economic sector, and around 274 billion euros were transacted in 2018. Only the automotive industry and retailers can show stronger figures.And those two industries, in turn, wouldn’t work without logistics. Logistics is diverse: As a professional field, it combines a wide range of technical and commercial skills. From truckers to data scientists. And the whole thing usually has an international component. Actually a highly attractive mix.

Relevant, diverse, innovative – and yet consistently underestimated

Really! Because logistics is still underestimated. In contrast to the manufacturing industries, logistics often remains invisible. But it is precisely this lack of attention that Supply Chain Day, initiated and coordinated by the Federal Logistics Association (BVL), counteracts.

“Diverse, relevant, international. At @tagderlogistik 2019, 23,000 visitors discovered career opportunities in logistics. @DBSchenker was there with many offerings.“

About 270 companies and organizations opened their doors on 11 April 2019. They provided insights into otherwise invisible processes – providing positive awareness among the 23,000 or so visitors in Germany and 15 other countries. The offerings on this twelfth day of activities reflected the diversity of logistics and what logistics does not just for the economy but also for society. During company tours, technical presentations, planning games, career fairs and more, the participating companies from industry, trade and services, research and education institutions showed the true diversity of the logistics economic sector.

Supply Chain Day: Focus on career beginners

Training at DB Schenker: "A little bit of action" | logistik aktuell

A trainee and an experienced professional - both Augsburg office - talk about their careers and their prospects in logistics.

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Supply Chain Day reaches a wide range of target groups – from interested laypeople to logistics professionals. The focus is on students and career newcomers who want to get an idea of logistical job profiles and possible employers. In view of the current shortage of skilled workers, this is probably the most important aspect of Logistics Day for businesses. In Germany a total of around 1.6 million skilled workers are still needed, according to a survey by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Logistics is no exception – rather the opposite. In such a competitive situation, any opportunity for public visibility is an important opportunity to attract new employees.

DB Schenker with new event formats

DB Schenker also took advantage of the day’s opportunity and attracted numerous students to a total of 14 locations from Hamburg to Nuremberg and from Duisburg to Leipzig on Supply Chain Day 2019. For the first time, there were also activities for the target group of professional drivers. The spectrum was extremely diverse. During harbor tours, warehouse visits, multimedia presentations and activities, valuable discussions developed about work in logistics and career opportunities at DB Schenker.

On the road and at Frankfurt Air Freight Hub

There was a very special activity along the A3 motorway between Nuremberg and Würzburg. DB Schenker drove to rest stops and parking spaces with a team of four to say thank you to professional drivers for their daily work. The truckers were handed a small goodie bag with food and a giveaway. In total, more than 100 colorful “Here to Move” backpacks were distributed. Many conversations were held with the truckers on this occasion. These included the expectations of professional drivers for their employers.

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This Supply Chain Day campaign on the A3 exemplifies exactly what Christa Stienen, Chief Human Resources Officer at DB Schenker for the Deutschland/Switzerland cluster describes as a new challenge for HR and Recruitment in logistics: “We have to get to the target group in an affine and trustworthy way – this also applies to HR and recruiting. Because it depends on people feeling that we care about their situation and their way of living. And that it is honest! ‘

On this year’s LSupply Chain Day, the program at the DB Schenker Air Freight Hub in the Cargo City of Frankfurt Airport offered intensive exchanges with students. During a tour, visitors were introduced to the extensive processes involved in import and export. The topics of safety and sustainability in air freight were also discussed. After the guided tour, there was a presentation and a live demonstration on the use of Virtual Reality in training and how to train work processes in the warehouse. Internationality, diversity and digitization – these were also topics that were addressed in the discussions with and among the students as advantages of the logistics workplace.

Interested visitors at DB Schenker’s Frankfurt Air Freight Hub

So the industry has a lot to offer. Supply Chain Day brings this to life again and again. By the way, also in the coming year. The next Supply Chain Day will take place on April 16, 2020!

Dr. Frieder Schwitzgebel studied philosophy and physics at the Universities of Mainz and Dijon and has been working as a corporate journalist since 1996. He is a lecturer in Business Philosophy at the Administration and Business Academy Wiesbaden. His focus is on new technologies, contract logistics, and platform economics.